The Catholic Defender: A short Diddy of St. Polycarp. Did he accept and utilize the Septugent

Yes, St. Polycarp accepted and utilized the Septuagint. As a 2nd-century bishop of Smyrna and a direct disciple of the Apostle John, Polycarp was deeply embedded in the Hellenistic Christian tradition

Adherence to the Apostolic Canon: Like the Apostles and early Church Fathers, Polycarp relied entirely on the Septuagint. He did not rely on the original Hebrew Masoretic text, which was later favored by Rabbinic Judaism and subsequent Protestant translations

The Witness of his Letter: The only surviving document attributed to him, the Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, features numerous scriptural references and quotes that directly align with the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew text.

Inclusion of Deuterocanonical Texts: The Septuagint that Polycarp utilized included the Deuterocanonical books. Notably, he quotes Tobias (Tobit 4:10) as authoritative Scripture when he reminds his readers that "alms deliver from death" in chapter 10 of his Epistle to the Philippians.

St. Polycarp's Epistle to the Philippians (written c. 110–140 AD) 14 Chapters is a key early Christian text linking the Apostolic Age with the Church Fathers. It serves as an ethical guide and heavily references the letters of Paul, containing several notable quotes on salvation, false teachings, and Christian conduct. 

St. Paul's Epistle to the Philippians—written from prison around AD 60–62—is famously known as the "Letter of Joy." Key verses cover themes of steadfast faith, humility, and finding peace during difficult times.

Written from prison, Paul’s letter to the Philippians is a message of joy, contentment, and unity. He thanks the church for their financial support, urges believers to adopt the humble, selfless attitude of Christ, and encourages them to replace anxiety with peace through prayer

Rejoice Always: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)

Freedom from Anxiety: "Have no anxiety at all... the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Positive Thinking: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true... think about these things." (Philippians 4:8) 

Strength in Christ: "I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me." (Philippians 4:13)

Living and Dying: "For to me, life is Christ, and death is gain." (Philippians 1:21)

God’s Promise: "I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it..." (Philippians 1:6)

Putting Others First: "Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3)

The Mind of Christ: "Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus..." (Philippians 2:5-8)